Categories

Originally broadcast September 28, 2012. Jeffrey Ross the host of Comedy Central's "The Burn" talk about roasting, Ethel Mormon returns, Will Ryan & The Cactus County Cowboys plus a discussion about sleep with a real life medical doctor, Jimmy Dore, Stephane Zamorano and Will Ryan. Please like us on Facebook and iTunes.

Michael Pritchard stars in the new documentary "Happy" about our quest for happiness. Also Jimmy Dore, Stephane Zamorano and Frank Conniff. Plus Will Ryan & The Cactus County Cowboys.

Michael Pritchard is a nationally acclaimed keynote speaker praised by the Wall Street Journal, CNN and Time for his ability to use humor to inspire and educate his audiences on communication skills. Michael Pritchard is a big guy with a warm heart who as one student described him, “truly walks as he talks.”

He began his career on both the comedy stage and as a juvenile counselor in San Francisco’s Youth Guidance Center. In 1980, Michael Pritchard won first place in the San Francisco International Stand Up Comedy Competition as well as winning the prestigious California Probation Officer of the Year.

Michael’s offers from Hollywood rolled in including a guest appearance on an Emmy Award winning episode of “Taxi”. His sensational standup comedy billed him with Robin Williams, Jerry Seinfeld, Dana Carvey and Whoopi Goldberg playing venues as Caesar’s, the Comedy Store, Universal Ampitheater and opening for such names as Diana Ross, the Grateful Dead, Kenny Rogers, Mike Mc Donald and Boz Scaggs. But Michael rejected offers from Hollywood to focus on using his comic talents for inspiring youth and adults.

His broad base of audience from corporate employees, healthcare workers, government and state officials have honored him with countless standing ovations and numerous awards including: President’s Volunteer Action Award, Commendation - Office of the Attorney General , Paul Harris Fellowship - Rotary International, Toastmaster’s International Speaker, Outstanding Performance - Federal Executive Board , Josephine Duveneck Humanitarian Award and the Key to the City of San Francisco.

As a result of his work, Michael Pritchard has been featured on CNN, NBC’s “The Today Show”, “The Tonight Show”, CBS “Sunday Morning” with Charles Kuralt, “Time” magazine and “People” magazine.

His seven educational series for PBS and distribution has been seen by millions and focuses on youth guidance in the areas of violence prevention. “The Power of Choice” “You can Choose”, “Big Changes, Big Choices”.

Forming Heartland Media, he continued with “Red Ribbon Week” and “PeaceTalks” teaching students to make positive choices.“SOS: Saving Our Schools from Hate and Violence”, featured in both Time magazine and on CNN, filmed after the tragic Columbine disaster. His new series: “Lifesteps” builds the social and emotional intelligence in youth and has already received the Parents Choice Award

For his work in promoting nonviolence with youth, Dr. Michael Pritchard was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Hartwick University and winning, 2001 Lewis Hine’s Award for Service to Children & Youth Certificate of Appreciation and the 2002 Marin Community Foundations Beryl Buck Fund Award for achievement in Promoting Nonviolence.

As an extension of Heartland Media, he established Heartland Media Foundation building character and emotional intelligence, violence prevention, inciting motivation and leadership in both youth and adults to improve schools and communities. The foundation provides youth guidance programs, including video, print curriculum, and live presentations by Michael Pritchard to aid in schools and communities where the funding is limited.

New York Times bestselling author of Conspiracy of Fools and The Informant— recounts the first 500 days after 9/11 in a comprehensive, compelling page-turner as gripping as any thriller. In 500 Days, master chronicler Kurt Eichenwald lays bare the harrowing decisions, deceptions, and delusions of the eighteen months that changed the world forever, as leaders raced to protect their citizens in the wake of 9/11.

Eichenwald’s gripping, immediate style and true to life dialogue puts readers at the heart of these historic events, from the Oval Office to Number 10 Downing Street, from Guantanamo Bay to the depths of CIA headquarters, from the al-Qaeda training camps to the torture chambers of Egypt and Syria. He reveals previously undisclosed information from the terror wars, including never before reported details about warrantless wiretapping, the anthrax attacks and investigations, and conflicts between Washington and London.

With his signature fast-paced narrative style, Eichenwald— whose book, The Informant, was called “one of the best nonfiction books of the decade” by The New York Times Book Review—exposes a world of secrets and lies that has remained hidden for far too long.

Why was George Bush in Dallas the day JFK was killed? Russ Baker is a US investigative journalist and founder of the nonprofit website WhoWhatWhy.com. His recurring themes are politics, secrecy, and abuses of power. His recent writings have focused on elites in finance, resource extraction, military and intelligence operations, and their quiet influence over national and global political and economic affairs. In 2009 Bloomsbury published his book Family of Secrets: the Bush Dynasty, the Powerful Forces That Put It in the White House, and What Their Influence Means for America. Family of Secrets was released in paperback in November 2009, under the title Family of Secrets: the Bush Dynasty, America's Invisible Government, and the Hidden History of the Last Fifty Years. The book has been reviewed by many print and electronic journals.

Outrage, written and directed by Kirby Dick, tackles the hypocrisy of closeted politicians who promote anti-gay legislation. On today's show Kirby discusses the closeted Florida Governor Charlie Crist who a month ago came out as a Democrat but still refuses to come out of the closet. Crist is scheduled to speak tomorrow at the Democratic convention despite the fact that when he was governor Crist supported some of America's most draconian anti gay legislation. Kirby's new film, The Invisible War, chronicles the epidemic of rape in the Armed Forces.

Have Americans lost the right to sue? We debunk the myths of "Tort Reform" with director of the documentary Hot Coffee, Susan Saladoff. Hot Coffee is airing on HBO and is also available as a download on iTunes. It chronicles the story of a 78-year-old woman's quest for justice after coffee from McDonald's spilled on her lap. What do we really know about her case and the disinformation campaign that turned her trial into a joke? Prepare to be outraged, then hug a lawyer. For more on Hot Coffee go to www.hotcoffeethemovie.com

The Democrats bring their convention to North Carolina one of the original "right to work" states. Has Obama turned his back on labor? Why are some of your favorite Hollywood stars promoting a new movie that undermines the Teachers Union? We celebrate Labor Day with Josh Eidelson who covers labor for Salon and In These Times. Plus Robin Roberts serenades us with union songs.